The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-31
A THUNDER SHOWER.
BY MARY C. PRESTON.

1t was such hot day-no cool breeze
at any place, and the whole world palpi-
tating under broiing sun.
But the sun had at last sunk slowly
into mass of tleccy, feathcry clouds,
which piled high in the heavens, and
gradually grew darker as they stretched
down to the western horizon; and slant
ing shadows fell softly Oh the picnicking
party in Howland'S Grove.
1T seems to me that we will all be
perfectly cooked before the day is over"
said Meg Christian, in voice rs sweet
and Gear as birds carol. II am sure,
were there any cannibals near at this
moment, it wouldn't be necessary for
them to light fire before they made u
meal oil us"
Something else would be necessary,
before they should make a meal of
you,' said the gentleman who was ly-
ing on the grass at her feet.
eyes" she answered, laughingly-
''for them to catch me, think"
You would fy9"
Il would rum"
And again she laughed a little, and
put the damp tresses from her forehead,
looking down on him with her pretty gray
eyes alight with merriment.
He was rather pale-faced youth, at
tired in fashion which left no doubt of
his being no native of the little town be-
low, but one of the many atoms which
drifted into it each summer-a city
boarder, as they were termed by the pc0-
pie Of Seaville, who, by-thc.way, gencr-
ally treated them well while they re.
mained, but were never sorry to see them
60.
But it was whispered that Meg Chris
clan would be sorry-nay, more than sorry
when this stranger drifted back to his
city home; and some said that when he
did go he would leave his heart behind
him, with the gray.eycd girl who was
treating Jack Linton so shamefully-
honest farmer Jack.
Meg knew that Jack was near, leaning
idly against tree, and frowning little,
when she laughed down at Percy Vigues
but Jack had not spoken a dozen words
to her through the afternoon, and Percy
Vignes had been very devoted; so, when
bunch of roses which she had thrust in
her belt fell on the grass, and Percy,
gathering them for her, kept one in his
hand, she did not claim it; and when he
brought her lunch basket, she sat cozilv
beside him, and shared all the good things
it contained with him.
"You will allow ME to drive you back,
will you not2" asked Percy, as they ate
and chattcd. ''It is quite a mile, you
know, and I have horse and buggy Iii
the edge of the grove"
Meg looked about her moment in 81
lence. She may have been thinking oi
other picncs, from which sh. and Jack
Linton had walked hand in hand, before
the cloud had arisen between them, which
she had not understood.
All, there Jack was, lunching comfort
ably with Bella Ray, the prctticst girl ir
the town, and he seemed to be having /
merry time of it.
By this time the sun was wholly OBJ
scured, the white clouds hal become
dun, and culver of lightning shot ovel
the sky.
"You will go with me2" Percy sale
again; and she answered him with un
smiling lips:
eyes; you are kind
Another flickering thread of ligh
across the whitene>s Of the hccccs ant
the darkness of the dusky clouds, sud
den, loud peal of thunder, and all saw
Meg spr,ng to their feet
IA thuuder-S hover" some one cried